A PROMISING young footballer from Runcorn has pleaded guilty to taking a boat - then leading police on an hour-long chase after dumping it.

Graham Smith, of Chichester Close, Murdishaw, took the £7,000 boat from its moorings outside a home in Crowton, Northwich, on August 1, last year.

He drove off but was spotted by the boat owner's son, who gave chase along the riverside. Smith abandoned the vessel after running aground and ran from the scene.

The 24-year-old was later arrested after being tracked by a police airplane.

On Thursday, Smith, a footballer with semi-professional side Cheadle Town, pleaded guilty at Northwich Magistrates Court to a charge of unlawfully taking the boat.

He also admitted two further charges of failing to surrender to the court in October and December last year.

Caroline Viviani, prosecuting, said the boat owner's son was in the back garden of his home when he heard a sound and went running to the front of the house where the boat was normally moored.

She said: 'The boat was not where it was supposed to be, but he could see it about 50 yards away with a male on board.

'He informed his mother someone had taken it and then ran out behind it. He then started running along the riverside in parallel with the boat before the defendant got it stuck on the river bed.

'He asked the defendant what he was doing and the defendant replied he was taking it out on a test run. He told him to stay where he was but the defendant jumped off the boat and started to run. He lost sight of the defendant as he started running towards Acton Bridge.'

The boat's owner found out about the incident a short time later and began a search of the area.

Ms Viviani said: 'At 12.30pm he saw the defendant in the village and said to him, 'we have caught you now', to which the defendant replied, 'I have done nothing' before running off.

'By this time there were several police officers and the force plane in the area looking for him. The plane quickly tracked him and two officers arrested him at 12.55pm.'

She added when interviewed by police Smith had at first admitted being in the area but denied taking the boat.

Peter Green, defending, told the court it had to be understood the boat was 'doing four knots an hour - he was not going to go anywhere with it.'

He added: 'With regards to the failure to attend court charges, he has had problems in coming to court. He plays for Cheadle Town and has been trying to live independently in Manchester. He is now going back to his parents.

'He is worried about his future because he is about to be offered a professional contract in the next few months.'

Sentencing will take place at Runcorn Magistrates later this month. Smith was ordered to live at his parents' address in Chichester Close and report to Runcorn police station three times a week.